Improvement in fire-escapes



v. WOH LM'A NN. Fire-Escape. 10.208944 Pa tented Oct. 5,1878.

N- PETERS, PNDTO-LITHOGRAFMER. WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALENTINE \VOHLMANN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN IFIREI-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,944, dated October15, 1878 application filed To all whom it may concern:

Be it known th at I, VALENTINE WoHLMANN, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county,State of Ohio, have invented an Improvement in Fire-Escapes, of whichthe following is a specification My invention relates to a fire-escapein which a tube is used, through which persons and goods may be safelylowered to the ground from the upper stories of a burning building.

My improvement consists in combining with the escape-tube a firemansseat and hose-pipe, by which the fire in a room may be operated uponwhile the occupants thereof are making their escape.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of abuilding with my fireescape in the process of elevation for use. Fig. 2is an enlarged view of the frame at the upper end of the tube, tiltedover to show its construction. Fig. 8 is a view of the same frame in theproper position for use, with the arms of the grappling-hook hangingdown, from which position it is raised by the man 011 the tube forengagement over a window-sill.

For the purpose of elevating the canvas tubes of my construction, andmoving them from window to window, any known means may be used-forinstance. such as I have shown in the drawing, consisting of the following parts:-

A is a rod or cable, permanently secured at the ends to the cornice ofthe building. Upon this rod or cable the sheave-block B moves, having asheave-wheel, l), to ride the rail or cable, and a sheave-wheel, b, toreceive the hoisting-rope O. This rope has at one end a flexible hook,c, and a loop, 0, adapted to spring over the end of the hook, so thatwhen the other end of the rope is tied to the hook the loop will sosecure it in place as that the rope doubled may be wound on a spool, and

placed by a person from window D into the box E, for safe keeping untila fire occurs. Ihis box has an inclined bottom, and is closed by agravitating door, 0, hinged at the bottom,

.and secured when shut by a belt or catch, 0.

A wire, F, is attached to this bolt or catch, whose lower end isinclosed in a locked box, F. A handle or slide, f, is affixed to the endof this wire F in box F, so that when the box is open the wire may bepulled and the door 0 consequently dropped, and the spool and rope thusallowed to fall to the ground. The loop a may then be disengaged and thehook attached to the eye of the escape-tube, the other end of the ropebeing then ready for use in elevating the tube.

G is the tube. It is made of canvas or other suitable material, with aframe, 9, at top, having an eye, g,'by which it is elevated. Agrappling-hook, H, is also hinged to the framey.

The parts so far described are all believed to be 01d. 7

One feature of my improvement consists in securing a seat, I, to theframe of the tubeforafireman to ride on. The fireman from this seat,with the aid of rope 'i, may raise the hook H into the position shown inFig 1, ready, when the window is raised or broken in, to be placed overthe sill'to support the tube G properly, so as to render it safe for theescape of a person by sliding through it from the window.

. As another feature of my improvement, I also attach flexible hose K tothe tube G, for the purpose of conveying water for the fireman to use atthe top of the tube, so that while a person is escaping through the tubethefirem an maybe busy extinguishingthe fire in the room, or on theperson of the occupant, or around the window, so that the escape withthe least possible injury of the occupant is provided for. It is notexpected to use a plain nozzle having a large hole, as it would be toopowerful generally, if used against the bodies of persoi'is escaping;but I expect to use a sprinkle-nozzle, adapted to shower water.

In escaping, the person or persons enter from the window into the mouthof the tube, and slide through onto a mattress placed below, and thismay be in very rapid succession; and the tube may be long enough tocurve at the bottom near the ground, so as to ease up the fall beforethe person reaches the mattress.

It will thus be seen that a great number of persons may escape in a veryshort space of time; and, more than this, trunks, valises, and othervalubles may be passed through in the same way, tlie manner of transitbeing such that no shock or conflict in the tube can occur. The tube maybe moved from window to window by the side pulling of the same rope thatelevates it, the sheave-wheel I) rolling freely on the cable A, and thefireman may be provided with a hooked pole, which he may hook over awindow-sill, and by it draw the mouth of the tube close to the window,so as to put the grapple-hook over the sill.

Opening flaps L may be provided in the tube, adapted to be opened in thestreet to let persons out when the tube, after being used full lengthfrom the uppermost window, has been lowered to the windows below. Thisprovision prevents the necessity of the persons passing the whole lengthof the tube when they come from lower windows.

I make no claim to the hoisting and shifting mechanism, nor to thearrangement for storing and fire-hose K, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto Set my hand.

VALENTINE IVOHLMANN.

\Vitnesses JOHN E. JoNns, J. L. IVARTMANN.

